Nancy Eckerson: Where to line up at the start of a road race

Sunday

May 18, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By Mike Whaleymwhaley@fosters.com

Many new runners are drawn to road race series for the challenge of running a race or two each month and as incentive and motivation to keep training, and it is new runners that are likely pushing the local race participant numbers so high. The Moms on the Run 5K in Dover on Mother’s Day had more than 1,200 finishers, compared with not quite 600 last year. The race is number four in Dover’s new race series, a series which is proving to be extremely popular. Another race in the series, the St. Mary Academy 5K also had more than double the number of finishers in 2014 than in 2013, 854 versus 408.

There’s a large learning curve when it comes to running, and newer runners usually have lots of questions. Throughout the year, I’ll address common questions newer runners often have with the hopes of easing the learning curve. With less than 10 years of road race experience I’m still learning as I go along, and this is part of the challenge and fun of running – once you get the basics down, there is always something new to master, whether it is a faster pace, new distance, or type of race.

and the bigger the race, the bigger the potential problems. If there is a starting mat, which records each runner’s actual start time regardless of how far back he/she lined up in the pack, then in theory, where to line up matters less, since the net-time will reflect the runner’s actual race time. But many races do not have starting mats, and gun-time is often used for awards so it is a good habit to get in the practice of lining up in the right position.

Issue number one: lining up too close to the start line. I love optimists, but overly optimistic racers who line up with runners who are much faster than they are create problems for themselves, and possibly for others. The most common regret voiced by runners everywhere is ‘I went out too fast.’ If you line up with much faster runners then you will likely start the race at a pace you cannot sustain and will suffer the deflation which occurs as countless other runners pass you when you slow down. We have all been there. A big part of the fun of racing is the ‘pull’ when those running faster in front tend to pull those behind them along, a big reason why many runners have their best times while racing. This pull works best when you are running with others who match your range of ability. If you are much slower than those around you, you can become a blocking and tripping hazard to others.

Issue number two: lining up too far back. Brand new runners who are less confident about their fitness may line up too far back in the pack which negatively impacts your time, especially when there is no starting mat. Although there is a less of a chance of wearing yourself out like the runner who starts the race too quickly and too far ahead, having to weave through a sea of runners to reach the right pace makes it difficult to get in a good race rhythm and adds to the distance of the race. Runners do not get extra points for running extra distance.

So what is the best approach? Some races have corals or signs with pace or finish times to help order the runners; you just need an estimate of your finish time or pace. Otherwise, check last year’s race results and see where your estimated time falls then line up accordingly. For example, if your estimated time puts you in the top 200 runners, then line up with about that many runners in front of you. You can even make it a challenge – guess your place and see how close you come to it. Depending on the size of the race and logistics at the beginning, if your net-time is within 10 seconds or so of your gun-time then you lined up in the right spot. Mastering the right position will give your race the best possible start.

Running Notes

Memorial Day Weekend brings the Runner’s Alley/Redhook 5K in Portsmouth on May 25; on May 25 & 26 there is the popular Pineland Trail Running Festival in New Gloucester, Maine, two days of trail running fun from 5K to 50 miles.

Nancy Eckerson writes about running for Foster’s Sunday Citizen. You can reach her at nerunner1@comcast.net.